January 8, 2023 1:40 p.m.

On Saturday, Republican precinct committee persons in Oregon Senate District One selected five names to be considered for the seat which was vacated by Dallas Heard, effective January 1st.

Those names are now forwarded to county commissions in Douglas, Coos and Curry County, who will meet later this month to select one person for the position.

Douglas County Republican Central Committee Vice Chair Michaela Hammerson said the top names, in order of votes received, were State Representative David Brock Smith of Curry County, followed by Douglas County residents Tim Allen, Richard Vander Velden, Todd Vaughn and Tom Dole. Receiving the least votes was Douglas Mendenhall, whose name was not forwarded. PCP’s must pick from 3 to 5 names, according to state election laws.

Hammerson said 121 people were at the meeting, held in Coquille. Hammerson said voting was weighted, based on the number of PCPs in a precinct and the population of each precinct.

Brock Smith has expressed interest in moving from the Oregon House to the state Senate. He received Heard’s endorsement as well. The person picked by county commissioners, will serve until the end of 2024.